2018 Dubai Tour (6 -10 Feb)

[Cav']

Tour of Dubai kicks of tomorrow, five stages totaling 851km.

 

The stages are as follows:
 

 

http://dubaitour.com/2018/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/DU18_T01_alt.png

1 - NAKHEEL STAGE (167km) - Tuesday, 6th February
On the first day the route will take the riders through some of the city’s most ambitious construction projects: Motor City (residential community area), the Global Village (the region's first cultural, entertainment, family and shopping destination) and the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Sport Complex, a modern-multi-purpose sports arena with a capacity of 15,000 spectators. Then there are the Al Qudra bike path, well known by the riders because is where the teams usually do their final preparations and close to Al Maktoum International Airport, the peloton will pass next to Dubai South, where the Dubai Expo will held in 2020. After the 4.38 sq km of world fair’s site, some Dubai landmarks such as the commercial port and business hub of Jebel Ali, Jumeirah Islands and finally, Palm Jumeirah – which will host the now well established sprint in front of the Atlantis “door.”
 

http://dubaitour.com/2018/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/DU18_T02_alt.jpg

2 - RAS AL KHAIMAH STAGE (190km) - Wednesday, 7th February
The following day, the stage sees the peloton ride through four different Emirates: Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah. During the first part the peloton will ride through the Dubai Design District. Then, on a flat route near the coast we discover Ajman and the Umm al-Quwain territory, famous both as archaeological site and for the amazing islands that lie to the east of the mainland peninsula. After 190km we expect to see another sprint on the Al Quawasim Corniche Road.
 

http://dubaitour.com/2018/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/DU18_T03_alt.jpg

3 - FUJAIRAH STAGE (190km) - Thursday, 8th February
This stage, from Dubai to Fujairah is similar to 2016’s opening stage, won by Marcel Kittel after a compelling sprint. In 2018, however, the peloton will not ride directly to Fujairah, passing first through the town of Kalba (Sharjah’s exclave), where there is an Intermediate sprint. Then, on a flat route that overlooks the Indian Ocean, we reach the finish on the Fujairah’s Corniche Road.
 

http://dubaitour.com/2018/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/DU18_T04_alt.jpg

4 - DUBAI MUNICIPALITY STAGE (172km) - Friday, 9th February
It’s exactly the same stage that last year was cancelled due to bad weather; a route through the deserts of Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, to reach Hatta Dam. Before the dam there are two climbs up to a 11% gradient, then the finale to the dam itself with a short stretch of about 200 meters featuring an inclination from 12% to 17%. This iconic stage, normally celebrated for the beautiful landscape and usually won by a puncheur, is not usually crucial in deciding the general classification.
 

http://dubaitour.com/2018/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/DU18_T05_alt.jpg

5 - MERAAS STAGE (132km) - Saturday, 10th February
The last day is a spectacular parade entirely in the city of Dubai. Along the way the peloton will celebrate Dubai’s best loved monuments and landmarks: the astonishing Meydan Racecourse, home of the world’s richest horse race (Dubai World Cup), then the family-oriented Mushrif Park, Al Mamzar, the historical Deira, the famous Port Rashid, and the iconic Union Flag. Just like last year the grand finale is set to take place in Al Mustaqbal Street at the City Walk district with the fascinating Dubai skyline as a backdrop.

Nine UCI WorldTour Teams, five UCI Professional Continental Teams, one UCI Continental Team and the UAE National Team will be at the start of the five-stage professional cycling race organised by the Dubai Sports Council in collaboration with RCS Sport. Each team will consist of seven riders.

[Cav']

Startlist:

[Cav']

 Team Katusha - Alpecin
1 KITTEL Marcel
2 DOWSETT Alex
3 HALLER Marco
4 KUZNETSOV Viacheslav
5 MATHIS Marco
6 POLITT Nils
7 ZABEL Rick

 Aqua Blue Sport
11 BLYTHE Adam
12 CHRISTIAN Mark
13 DUNNE Conor
14 FENN Andrew
15 BRAMMEIER Matthew
16 KREDER Michel
17 PEARSON Daniel

 Astana Pro Team
21 CORT NIELSEN Magnus 
22 BIZHIGITOV Zhandos
23 FOMINYKH Daniil
24 DE VREESE Laurens
25 KORSAETH Truls
26 MINALI Riccardo
27 TLEUBAYEV Ruslan

 

 Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team
31 NIBALI Vincenzo
32 KOREN Kristijan
33 BOLE Grega
34 COLBRELLI Sonny
35 GARCIA CORTINA Ivan
36 BOZIC Borut
37 PER David

 BMC Racing Team
41 ROCHE Nicolas
42 BOHLI Tom
43 DRUCKER Jean-Pierre
44 TEUNS Dylan
45 VAN HOOYDONCK Nathan
46 VENTOSO Francisco 
47 VLIEGEN Loïc

 Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
51 BOUHANNI Nacer
52 CHETOUT Loïc
53 EDET Nicolas
54 LEMOINE Cyril
55 NAVARRO Daniel
56 TEKLEHAIMANOT Daniel
57 VAN LERBERGHE Bert

[Cav']

 Mitchelton - BikeExchange
61 BI Wenhui
62 BIEKEN Nazaerbieke
63 HENNESSY Jacob
64 STANNARD Robert
65 SUN Xiaolong
66 JENNER Samuel
67 XUE Fuwen

 Quick-Step Floors
71 VIVIANI Elia
72 DECLERCQ Tim
73 JAKOBSEN Fabio
74 LAMPAERT Yves
75 SABATINI Fabio
76 SCHACHMANN Maximilian
77 TERPSTRA Niki

 Rally Cycling
81 ANTHONY Jesse
82 CARPENTER Robin
83 HUFF Charles Bradley
84 MAGNER Ty
85 MCNULTY Brandon
86 PATE Danny
87 YOUNG Eric

 

 Dimension Data
91 CAVENDISH Mark
92 DEBESAY Mekseb
93 EISEL Bernhard
94 GEBREIGZABHIER Amanuel
95 RENSHAW Mark
96 THOMSON Jay Robert
97 VERMOTE Julien

 Team LottoNL-Jumbo
111 GROENEWEGEN Dylan
112 JANSEN Amund Grondahl
113 LEEZER Tom
114 LINDEMAN Bert-Jan
115 MARTENS Paul
116 ROOSEN Timo
117 TANKINK Bram

 Team Novo Nordisk
111 PERON Andrea
112 BENHAMOUDA Mehdi
113 KAMSTRA Brian
114 PLANET Charles
115 POLI Umberto
116 VALOGNES Quentin
117 WILLIAMS Christopher

 

 Trek - Segafredo
121 DEGENKOLB John
122 ALAFACI Eugenio
123 BRÄNDLE Matthias
124 NIZZOLO Giacomo
125 RAST Gregory
126 SKUJIŅŠ Toms
127 VAN POPPEL Boy

 United Arab Emirates
131 AL MANSOORI Mohammed Yousif 
132 AL MANSOORI Jaber
133 AL MURAWWI Mohammed
134 ALBALOOSHI Majed
135 AL KAABI Saif Mayoof
136 ALMEMARI Nasser
137 MAYOUF Khaled

 UAE-Team Emirates
141 KRISTOFF Alexander
142 AIT EL ABDIA Anass
143 BONO Matteo
144 BYSTRØM Sven Erik
145 CONSONNI Simone
146 GANNA Filippo
147 MIRZA Yousef Mohamed

 

 Wilier Triestina - Selle Italia
151 POZZATO Filippo
152 BERTAZZO Liam
153 BEVILACQUA Simone
154 COLEDAN Marco
155 MARECZKO Jakub
156 PACIONI Luca
157 ZHUPA Eugert

[Cav']

This will be the battle of the sprinters;

 

Cavendish VS Kittel VS Kristoff VS Groenewegen VS Viviani VS Bouhani 

[shaper]

Be interesting to see how the 1× Aqua Blue do, especially as they recently won a UCI stage which was a sprint finish.

 

Also Cavendish's form, if any

[Cav']

Be interesting to see how the 1× Aqua Blue do, especially as they recently won a UCI stage which was a sprint finish.

 

Also Cavendish's form, if any

Definitely, he'll either dominate or be absolutely nowhere. (Cavendish)

 

On paper Kittel should be the favourite, however we'll have to wait and see how he gels with his new team's lead out train. Viviani has the most racing in his legs so far that might count in his favour. Groenewegen is also coming of age, he's not so intimidated by the older sprinters anymore (Especially after his win in Paris)

 

Kristoff is the Darkhorse and Bouhani the jester.

['Dale]

Kitten will prob dominate hey

 

 

Listen here - very insightful

????

https://itunes.apple.com/za/podcast/the-cycling-news-podcast/id1012929015?mt=2&i=1000401197023

[Gnarly]

Saw the whole of Katusha riding through business bay yesterday. 

 

Wonder if the sprinters will be able to hold on up the Hatta Dam climb, it gets pretty steep. 

[Cav']

http://www.steephill.tv/2018/dubai-tour/photos/stage-00/05_FF12203.jpg

[Cav']

http://www.steephill.tv/2018/dubai-tour/photos/stage-00/10-MAP_8515.jpg

[Cav']

Mark Cavendish (British Isles - Team Dimension Data): “When I won the overall classification in 2015, it was the first Dubai Tour without a time trial. I was with Quick Step at the time. I had a great lead out train and I got through the hard stage to Hatta Dam. The amount of sprints here makes it very attractive. I spend a lot of time in Dubai, so it’s nice to be back.”

[Cav']

Alexander Kristoff (NOR - UAE Team Emirates): “For sure, this race is important for my new team – it’s our home ground – but the Dubai Tour is no less important for the other sprinters sitting next to me. The level of sprinting here is very high. There’ll be a tough competition. I did some work with my new team-mates, but it’s difficult to train all together when some of us are racing in Australia and Argentina. I’m pretty fresh. I’ll try day by day to be a winner.”

[Cav']

Marcel Kittel (GER - Katusha Alpecin): “I came here like every year for my first race of the season. I’ve changed team but my motivation is the same. We’ll try our best to go for the victory, but we’ll take it day by day, as we’re not yet concentrated on scoring the hat trick. Elia Viviani certainly has a very good team, with my old train, but I also have a strong team with a lot of German speaking riders. I’m curious to find out how good we are.”

[Cav']

Elia Viviani (ITA - Quick-Step Floors): “I’ve had a really good winter with my new team and I've already got a stage win [at the Santos Tour Down Under in Australia]. I enjoy racing for Quick Step Floors. This team is very focus on sprinting. It makes a difference for me. Stage 1 has a really nice finish – I’ve won there two times – positioning before the final straight is crucial, depending on the crosswinds.”

[Cav']

Nacer Bouhanni (FRA - Cofidis, Solutions Credits): “This is the first time for Cofidis riding the Dubai Tour. Our team has a new management this year. A few things have changed but my preparation has remained pretty much the same. I’m happy to come here and compete with the world’s best sprinters.”